Page 54 of Suspicions on the Stage
Standing quickly, I stalk over to her chair, putting my hands on the arms. I lean into her face, my eyes determined as I kiss her hard and fast, then pull back with a smirk. The surprised expression on her face is worth it, and I spin on my heel, striding back to my seat without a word. It’s not the first time I’ve kissed a woman or someone I don’t like very much; she would never win this battle.
“You are confirmed,” she says as she wipes the corner of her mouth. “Who’s next?”
One by one, my men stomp over to press extremely chaste kisses on the broker. None of them look happy as they return to their seats, but I keep my expression passive. Celestara would definitely get off on seeing me feel uncomfortable—I believe she’s feeding on anything she can in this exchange. I assumed she was a crossroads demon hybrid by her trade, but now I’m not so sure.
Perhaps her demon lineage is mixed on one side and she learned other species’ behavior?
I don’t know enough about demons to have a cogent theory. It’s something we’re going to have to pose to our new friends in the pits. Our lack of knowledge with that realm is now a much bigger issue than attending a party full of drugged out demons looking to get laid. “Now that we’ve all agreed, show us some of your most impressive accomplishments.”
“Fine,” she sighs as her lashes flutter. The demoness raises her hand gracefully, snapping her fingers. Light flashes in the middle of the room and after I rub my eyes, I see the holographic screen she’s projecting mid-air. An image of a handsome man with severe features and dark hair fills the frame. He is scowling, but his eyes are full of sadness that almost jumps from the screen to me. “Meet Otto. His story is largely untold, though his legacy has lasted from the beginning ofallour ancestors. Otto was immensely powerful, but even when they went by other names, the threads of Fates wove his tapestry in a way he could not abide.”
“Showing us some unverifiable nonsense isn’t under that agreement,” Liam says as he glares at Celestara. “This had better not be the only thing we see.”
“Ah, but it’s where it begins, and there is no better place to start, Prince.” She wags a finger at him, then gestures to the screen. “Otto did his best to accept the cards he was dealt, but after several millennia, he grew weary of hidden misery. He and the mates he bonded to had done marvelous things that spread throughout the universe, but that could not mend his wounded heart. So, at cost to himself and his entire cadre of primordials, he sought a solution that changed everything.”
Lucas snorts. “Are you sayingyouhelped this big, angry primordial fix his shit? I don’t believe you.”
Celestara sighs in annoyance. “The youngest are always the most difficult to explain big pictures to. It’s very irritating. Allow me to tell the story in my way, or I’ll revoke your contract. I do not have time or energy for such ridiculousness.”
I place my hand on Lucas’s knee and pat gently. “It’s okay, babe. She’s being long-winded, but I am trying to believe that she is heading to a point while still being truthful.”
“Thank you.” She waves her hand at the screen, showing flashes of what looks to be a very large ritual in an enormous field with sparkling stars. “He approached some of the most powerful of their creations—ones from many species with varied powers. He promised them their own realms if they agreed to assist him with severing the bond that pained him so deeply. The hands of Fate had given the women he loved other mates, and he agreed to it so he would not lose his heart. However, eventually he could not cope any longer, but he also could not admit it to them.”
Liam tilts his head, studying the demoness for a moment. “The originals made the pact to form the realms where they could reign on their own, and that required them to enlist, summon, or enslave as many supes as possible to use as a battery for this supposedly impossible feat.”
“Yes!” she claps her hands, looking pleased. “And I am one of the many summoned for that purpose, but once we were given our due, I worked tirelessly amongallthe species to make myself indispensable to our rulers. Even after the war in Hell, I pledged allegiance to the new court and continued my work. So I am owed by so many beings for so many things that my influencecannot be measured by most. My connections are more vast than you can imagine.”
“And the negative effects of that slap in the face of Fate have cursed all seven realms ever since.” Slade frowns as he shakes his head. “Everything bad that has come along likely stems from that… God or whatever… spitting in the face of the will of destiny. You realize that, right?”
Iggy rubs his hands over his face, looking too shocked to speak, but he finally does. “I assume the tales about the creation of supernaturals and the realms weren’t spot on—but that’s how ancient mythology works for… well, everyone, even humans. No tales of the past or origin stories survive completely intact. But this is more than that.”
Celestara rolls her eyes. “For the love of Odin’s crusty eye patch, people. It’sthe past. There is nothing you can do to change or alter it. It simply exists as a reminder of what shouldnotbe done, or in rare cases, what should. Mourning something like that is illogical and a waste of your brain cells. I am only showing you because youinsistedyou needed proof of my reach. Now you have it and you’re all mopey?”
“Not mopey. Shocked and processing, yes. But since you’re correct in your little show and tell…” I gesture at the screen where events that cascaded after the ritual are playing in small spliced footage. “We should tell you we have two items to discuss in relation to your fees. One is locating something rare, and the other is telling us if you have seen a supe in this bar tonight.”
“Why in the fuck would you want... You don’t need me to locate someone in Howl. That’s an insult to my reputation to even engage in. Have your mage do a minor spell and rethink what you just said.” Her fingers flick at the hologram thing andit disappears. “However, here is the paperwork for locating a missing object/person/place. It translates to your request well.”
I hand the scroll to Liam, knowing he needs to look it over, then look at Iggy. “Is she right? Would we be better served having you do a locator?”
He pulls the pocket watch out of his pocket, looking at it for a moment. “I can try, but I did not offer because if he is… not available for whatever reason… it won’t work. It also might notify people we wish to avoid that he is being looked for.”
Turning to Celestara, I arch a brow. “Well?”
Her sigh is dramatic, but she waves her hand. “Fine, fine. I will toss the internal location here for free since repeat customers with your pedigrees would be extremely beneficial to my reputation.”
“Nice.” Lucas grins at me, lacing our fingers together. “You’re a great negotiator, Lady M.”
The demoness snorts. “That wasn’t really a negotiation. It was a subtle nod I’m using to garner your business, bear. Don’t mistake me for someone who has ‘fuzzy’ feelings and sympathies that can be played upon. I do not get attached to anyone or anything; I am purely an opportunist.”
“This contract does not have loopholes or hidden spells. However, it has a clause that allows her to use us within her highlight marketing, should our deals affect the world profitably.” Liam makes a face at the broker, then looks at me. “We’ll be able to cover the costs inherent without a problem. If you agree, then I am comfortable joining you.”
That would be comforting if I couldn’t sense the hesitation in our bond, and I know the only thing that could cause it is what we’re going to lose to this woman.
wicked ways
SLADE
Morgana trusts the prince, and that’s enough for me. Everything he’s done and said since he arrived at her house has been helpful and kind. This is Liam’s area of expertise, so Iggy’s natural inclination to want control at every turn isn’t being activated. Lucas would walk into a wall of fire if our mate told him to. I grew up with many people like this broker, though, and she makes my gut clench with anxiety. These types arealwayshiding something and we’ve got so much stacked against us as it is.
